Centrifugal separator



States This invention relates to the art of separating mate'- rials, and more particularly to separator equipment which centrifugally separates liquids from solids.

The separator of this invention is particularly useful and efficient in removing liquids from solids which have a high affinity for the liquids. Examples of solid-liquid mixtures which present either difiicult or heretofore unsolved separation problems are: white Water, a by-product of the paper making industry; pear waste; and malt mash. The closest mechanical approach to the solution of the separation problems presented by these and other materials is a screen having compound vibratory movement. This, however, leaves much to be desired from the standpoint of separation efficiency.

An object of the present invention is to provide a separator which will effect complete separation of difficul-tly separable mixtures of liquids and solids.

A further object of the invention is to provide a separator of this type which is compact and inexpensive but which has a very high productive capacity per time unit of operation.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a centrifugal separator capable of whirling liquid-solid mixtures under centrifugal force conditions many hundreds of times the force of gravity comprising a movable continuous belt which is pervious to liquid but impervious to the solids to be removed from said liquid.

And yet a further object of the invention is to provide a separator of the type described wherein the belt is self-cleansing with respect to the solids accumulated against it.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawing forming part of this specification, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the separator, portions thereof being broken away to show interior detail;

FIG. 2 is a view in section taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a view in section taken along the lines 33 of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawing, an open bottom casing is provided with side walls 12, end walls 14, and a cover plate 18 having a hinge connection 20 with one of the end walls 14. Fixedly secured atop the cover plate 18 is a motor 22 having a rotor shaft 24 extending into casing 10. Fixedly secured to shaft 24 for rotation therewith is a wheel 26 comprising an annular web 28 and a rim 30 which is substantially semi-circular in vertical section. The upper and lower outer edges of rim 30 are provided with V grooves 32. A continuous belt 34 comprising metal mesh body or screen 36 and V belts 37 which fit into the rim grooves 32 is trained around about 270 of the periphery of wheel 26. Said belt is further trained about idler spools 38 and 40 which are rotatably disposed on stub shafts 42 and 44 secured to and depending from cover plate 18. Shaft 44 is directly secured to a plate member 46 which is mounted for sliding movement on the cover plate 18 under control of adjustment means 48, whereby the tension applied to belt 34 may be maintained at a desired level.

A material feed conduit 50 mounted on and extending through cover plate 18 comprises a vertically disposed portion 52 and a horizontally disposed portion 54, the

3,089,595 Patented May 14, 1963 2 latter having a discharge opening 56 positioned to discharge liquid-solid feed material into the space defined between rim 30 and belt 34.

The space within the casing 10 is divided into two separated open bottom compartments by partition members or baffles 58 and 60, the latter being abbreviated in height to extend beneath the wheel 26 and belt 34. A baffle plate 62 depending from cover plate 18 is provided for a purpose hereinafter described.

The mode of operation of the separator will now be described. After motor 22 is energized to drive the wheel 26 and cause the wheel to drive the belt 34, the liquid-solid material is continuously introduced into the rim 30 through conduit 50. The material is whirled against the screen 36 and during the brief instant (about 0.05 second) it takes for the screen to move 270 and out of engagement with the wheel the entire liquid phase of the material is forced through the screen and into the larger of the two open bottom casing compartments demarcated by partition members 58 and 60. The solid phase of the material is carried by the screen and discharged therefrom tangentially of idler spool 38 against baffle plate 62 which prevents the solids from impinging upon the return reach of belt 34 and from being therebycarried back to wheel 26. The solids are thus deposited into the smaller of the two open bottom casing compartments demarcated by partition members 58 and 60.

In a test apparatus, the screen 36 was 20 mesh; the diameter of wheel 26 was 24.5 inches; the motor 22 was of variable speed, having the ability to drive the screen at a rate up to about 5000 lineal feet per minute (about 780 r.p.m. for wheel 26); and up to about 800 Gs is applied to the material being processed. In working with white water it was found that complete separation of the liquid from the solids took place during a single pass of the material through the apparatus.

The partition members 58 and 60 prevent commingling of the solids and liquids after they have left screen 36.

An important feature is that the screen 36 is selfcleaning. As it turns around idler spool 38 its mesh openings open slightly more than normal, and this along with the natural tendency of the solids to move tangentially of spool 38 ensures that no residual solids will cling to the screen to be returned to wheel 26.

Cover plate 18 is provided with a lift handle 64 whereby it may be swung upwardly about the hinge connection 20 for access to the parts carried at the underside of plate 18.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for separating liquids from solids comprising a wheel member having an outwardly directed concave rim, means including a shaft for supporting and rotatably driving said wheel member, a screen belt trained about a substantial portion of said concave rim in covering relation therewith, said screen belt leaving said rim, extending about fixedly positioned idler roller means, then returning to said rim, said screen belt being driven by said wheel member, said concave rim and that portion of the belt in engagement therewith defining therebetween a continuous and uninterrupted semi-annular chamber, and stationary feed means for introducing a liquid-solid mixture into said chamber defined between said concave rim and said screen belt, said latter means being provided with a discharge outlet disposed in communication with said chamber.

2. Apparatus for separating liquids from solids comprising a wheel member having an outwardly directed concave rim, means including a shaft and a motor in driving relation thereto for supporting and rotatably driving said wheel member, a screen belt trained about a substantial portion of said concave rim in covering relation therewith, said screen belt leaving said rim, extending about fixedly positioned first and second idler roller means, then returning to said rim, said screen belt being driven by said wheel member, said first and second idler means constraining the reach of said screen belt disposed therebetween to follow a path which is disposed at a substantial angle with respect to the path followed by that portion of the screen belt just leaving said rim, said first idler roller means being in engagement with the out side surface of said screen belt and said second idler roller means being in engagement with the inside surface of said screen belt, said concave rim and that portion of the belt in engagement therewith defining therebetween a continuous and uninterrupted semi-annular chamber and stationary feed means for introducing a liquid-solid mixture into said chamber defined between said concave rim and said screen belt, said latter means being provided with a discharge outlet disposed in communication with said chamber.

3. Apparatus for separating liquids from solids comprising a wheel member having an outwardly directed concave rim provided with spaced apart end edges, means including a shaft and a motor in driving relation thereto for supporting and rotatably driving said wheel member, a screen belt trained about a substantial portion of said concave rim in covering relation therewith, said screen belt leaving said rim, extending about fixedly positioned idler roller means, then returning to said rim, said belt and said spaced apart end edges of said rim having complemental inter-fitting tongue and groove elements whereby said belt may be driven by said wheel, said concave rim and that portion of the belt in engagement therewith defining therebetween a continuous and uninterrupted semi-annular chamber, and stationary feed means for introducing a liquid-solid mixture into said chamber defined between said concave rim and said screen belt, said latter means being provided with a discharge outlet disposed in communication with said chamber.

4. Apparatus for separating liquids from solids comprising a wheel member having an outwardly directed concave rim, shaft means mounting said member for rotation, motor means for driving said shaft means, a closed path screen belt having a first reach trained about a substantial portion of said concave rim in covering relation therewith and having a second reach disposed away from said rim by fixedly positioned idler rollers, said belt being adapted to be driven by said wheel member, said concave rim and said first reach of said belt defining therebetween a continuous and uninterrupted semi-annular chamber, and a stationary feed conduit having an outlet end disposed substantially tangentially to said wheel member and extending into said chamber defined between said concave rim and said first reach of said screen belt, said conduit outlet end being oriented to introduce a liquid-solid mixture into said chamber in the direction of rotative movement of said wheel member.

5. Apparatus for separating liquids from solids comprising a Wheel member having an outwardly directed concave rim, means including a shaft and a motor in driving relation thereto for supporting and rotatably driving said wheel member, a screen belt trained about a sub stantial portion of said concave rim in covering relation therewith, said screen belt leaving said rim, extending about fixedly positioned first and second idler rollers, and returning to said rim, said screen belt being driven by said wheel member, said concave rim and that portion of the belt in engagement therewith defining thcrebetween a continuous and uninterrupted semi-annular chamber, and stationary feed means for introducing a liquid-solid mixture into said chamber defined between said concave rim and that portion of said screen belt engaging said rim, said latter means being provided with a discharge outlet disposed in communication with said chamber.

6. Apparatus for separating liquids from solids comprising an annular member and means supporting and for rotatively driving said member, a continuous and uninterrupted peripheral recess formed in and extending fully around said annular member, a screen belt frictionally engaging a substantial portion of the periphery of said annular member in screening relation to said peripheral recess, said belt being trained about said annular member and about at least one fixedly positioned idler roller disposed in spaced relation to said annular member, said belt being adapted to be driven by said annular member, and stationary feed means for delivering a liquid-solid mixture into that portion of said peripheral recess with which said belt is in screening relation, said latter means being provided with a discharge outlet disposed in communication with said portion of said peripheral recess.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 877,631 Clark Jan. 28, 1908 1,280,469 Hiller Oct. 1, 1918 2,720,974 Fowler Oct. 18, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 6,252 Great Britain Mar. 7, 1891 

1. APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING LIQUIDS FROM SOLIDS COMPRISING A WHEEL MEMBER HAVING AN OUTWARDLY DIRECTED CONCAVE RIM, MEANS INCLUDING A SHAFT FOR SUPPORTING AND ROTATABLY DRIVING SAID WHEEL MEMBER, A SCREEN BELT TRAINED ABOUT A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF SAID CONCAVE RIM IN COVERING RELATION THEREWITH, SAID SCREEN BELT LEAVING SAID RIM, EXTENDING ABOUT FIXEDLY POSITIONED IDLER ROLLER MEANS, THEN RETURNING TO SAID RIM, SAID SCREEN BELT BEING DRIVEN BY SAID WHEEL MEMBER, SAID CONCAVE RIM AND THAT PORTION OF THE BELT IN ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH DEFINING THEREBETWEEN A CONTINUOUS AND UNINTERRUPTED SEMI-ANNULAR CHAMBER, AND STATIONARY FEED MEANS FOR INTRODUCING A LIQUID-SOLID MIXTURE INTO SAID CHAMBER DEFINED BETWEEN SAID CONCAVE RIM AND SAID SCREEN BELT, SAID LATTER MEANS BEING PROVIDED WITH A DISCHARGE OUTLET DISPOSED IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID CHAMBER. 